Discount travel in Costco cards

by Dawn Gilbertson - Dec. 1, 2011 04:30 PMThe Arizona Republic

When it comes to holiday shopping, most people think of warehouse clubs as the spot for discounted electronics, jewelry, books and an endless assortment of prepackaged gift sets containing everything from chocolates to Champagne.

Often overlooked among those staples are deals on gifts for the traveler on your list.

Costco sells airline and hotel gift cards, ski packages, admission to theme parks and more. Some offers are available in stores; a broader selection is online.

Grocery stores, drugstores and other retailers sell airline and other travel-gift cards, of course, but the difference at warehouse clubs is that the items are sold at a discount to members. Annual membership starts at $55 at Costco, $40 at Sam's Club.

The Costco in northeast Scottsdale, for example, is selling a $300 American Airlines gift card for $269. The store also is selling a $260 package that includes five single-day lift tickets to Durango Mountain Resort in Colorado and discounts on lodging and lessons.

The Costco outside Paradise Valley Mall in northeast Phoenix has the Durango package as well as two tickets to Universal Studios for $59.

Online, Costco has lift-ticket packages to other ski resorts, including Mount Hood Meadows in Oregon and Kirkwood Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. It also offers discounted admission to Legoland and a $100 Vegas.com gift card for $80.

Want to treat someone to a hotel stay? Online, Costco has hotel gift cards including a $100 card to Arizona Grand Resort for $80. For bigger budgets, there's a one-night package at the luxury Salish Lodge & Spa near Seattle for $399 that includes breakfast and two spa treatments.